Background: Anxiety and depressive disorders are common in western societies and related to occupational problems.

Objective: To describe occupational balance in people with anxiety and/or depression and associations with higher occupational balance.

Methods: Clients (20 men and 98 women), aged 18 to 65 years were recruited from outpatient mental health care or primary health care. They had a diagnosis of anxiety and/or depression as well as occupational problems.

The participants answered questionnaires about occupational balance, occupational performance, satisfaction with occupational performance, quality of life, and psychological problems.

Results: The participants rated generally low occupational balance. However, the level of occupational balance differed depending on their self-rated level of anxiety and depression; quality of life; occupational performance; and satisfaction with the occupational performance.

High occupational balance was, in a logistic regression, associated with high satisfaction with occupational performance, high quality of life, and low level of depression.

Conclusion: The results indicate that satisfaction with occupational performance is a relevant aspect in relation to occupational balance in clients with anxiety and depression.